Arlington, Texas to Open 100,000 Sq. Ft Esports Stadium – Fall 2018

The City of Arlington announced plans for the Esports Stadium Arlington, a state-of-the-art esports venue designed to draw competitive players and fans from around the world. The 100,000 square-foot space, which would be the largest and most flexible esports stadium in the country, is set to open its doors this fall in Arlington’s world-class Entertainment District. Arlington is proud to be home of the University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys and the WNBA’s Wings. But now, the city has set its sights on a different, but rapidly growing, corner of the sports entertainment market — competitive gaming. For more information, esportsstadium.gg

Mayor Jeff Williams announced the city’s innovative venture with Esports Venues, LLC, during a news conference Wednesday at the Arlington Convention Center, which would become home to Esports Stadium Arlington.

By collaborating with award-winning sports and entertainment architecture firm Populous, the City of Arlington and Esports Venues, LLC, plans to invest $10 million into the Arlington Convention Center to transform it into a stadium that offers the most immersive spectator experience in the live esports event market.

The city’s proposed agreement with Esports Venues, LLC, includes an initial 10-year lease with a 10-year renewal option. Arlington’s renovation and equipment investments would be repaid through annual lease payments, event revenue, stadium naming rights revenue and other opportunities associated with catering to the esports industry.

In 2017, the global esports market was valued at nearly $493 million. By 2020, esports is estimated to be a $1.5 billion industry.

The stadium will be managed by NGAGE Esports, one of the nation’s leaders in the field of entertainment marketing. NGAGE has a proven track record of working with some of the world’s biggest companies to combine social media, design, asset building, brand partnerships and activations to optimize fan engagement.

Arlington is already home to an active, engaged gaming community at the University of Texas at Arlington.

The city’s planned stadium, which displays the adaptive re-use potential of esports, would feature a major competition event space, gaming, retail and social spaces, VIP hospitality, a broadcast studio and team training areas.